William "Chip" Madsen

William "Chip" Madsen of Maplewood, N.J. passed away on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, after a relentless fight with metastasized melanoma cancer. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial service at the Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church, 600 Ridgewood Rd., Maplewood, N.J. on Saturday, Jan. 26, at 11 a.m. Arrangements are by The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, Maplewood. Chip never did anything without energy, commitment and passion. He married his college sweetheart and remained passionately in love with her until the end. He was a classically trained musician who was a professional opera singer in Germany and the United States for several years. In recent years, his passion was his fierce belief in social justice for all, advocating for the betterment of children's lives and mentoring young people. This was evidenced by his active leadership in many committees and programs at Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church and the community of South Orange and Maplewood. He was a member of the South Orange/Maplewood Board of Education for several years, a past chairperson of the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race, a recipient of the Reading is Fundamental Volunteer of the Year Award, and was honored by the South Orange Civic Association with the "Beloved Community Award." He also received the N.J. Governor's Award for exemplary volunteer after-school programs. Chip served for over 18 years at Protestant Community Centers, Inc. as both associate and deputy executive director, where he managed the largest one-to-one tutoring and mentoring programs in New Jersey, the largest Reading is Fundamental program in New Jersey, four comprehensive on-site after-school programs, as well as day camps and overnight camps. He was most recently employed by the Enright Melanoma Foundation, where he focused his passion on prevention and awareness of melanoma cancer. He developed programs for children's summer camps and town pools for skin cancer awareness and training of counselors and life guards. His motto in life was found in the Bible verse Micah 6:8: "-- what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Dawilla Madsen. He is also survived by his brother, Douglas Madsen; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and many individuals whose lives he touched with his huge, passionate and caring heart. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Enright Melanoma Foundation, P.O. Box 519, Summit, N.J. 07902-0519; the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race, P.O. Box 1309, Maplewood, N.J. 07040 or the organ fund at Morrow Memorial United Church would be appreciated.